Page 42 of Deadly Knight (The Bratva’s Elite #2)

Forty-eight hours is agonizingly long when locked inside a prison, but I refuse to go home until making Ivan bleed.

Guards drag him from his cell to the same room I used the other day.

He’s since been stripped of his usual suit and now dons the standard, prison-issued grey sweats and grey shirt.

Shackled hands hang limp in front of him, his steps sluggish already.

His hair has lost its gleam, the result of a lack of self-grooming.

It’s an appealing sight, but not one good enough yet. Not nearly good enough.

“Syn,” he greets without looking my way, his throat dry and dehydrated.

“You should give up on the title, Ivan. If you haven’t realized, me tossing you in here breaks anything familial once between us.”

“Ahh”—he drags out the word—“too bad it doesn’t work like that.” He treads to the far wall, his feet scraping against the stone floor. “Why this meeting?”

“This isn’t a meeting.” Lifting my boot, I snatch the knife tucked inside, twirling it in my hand until the blade catches the light from the hanging bulb. “This is vengeance. Simple and bloody. Don’t worry, you won’t be dying yet. You have years ahead to go.”

I bear down on him.

Once he’s dragged away, his face a broken mess, I instruct the medics to inject him with pain meds to keep him going a bit longer.

For now, the monster demanding blood and vengeance is temporarily satisfied. We’re far from being full, but I couldn’t keep going and risk accidentally killing him.

From the first punch, Katya’s face is all I saw in my mind.

Her tears when she was tied to that disgusting mattress.

Her cries when she begged me to save her.

Her soul when it was wrecked before my very eyes.

All like it only happened yesterday.

I couldn’t show mercy, but fuck, I managed to, only so I can do it all again.

Even after washing them, my hands are stained with his blood—metaphorically speaking—but I speed towards Moscow without considering the fact I haven’t finished at the prison yet.

It’s been too long since I’ve seen her, held her, and I’m frustrated to be clinging to my cousin’s regulated updates.

After today, after finally beginning his punishment, the woman whose face was behind every hit, every cut, every slash is what the monster needs before settling for the night.

To see her and know she’s safe and not there .

I didn’t warn Vanessa about my arrival, and it’s well after midnight when I arrive, so most of the mansion should be asleep, other than the guards stationed at the edge of the property and those by the doors who greet me as I pass.

I take the stairs two at a time until reaching my room and checking the knob.

It’s locked, which means at least Vanessa’s been following my request during the nighttime.

After using my spare key, I’m careful when shutting the door to not wake her.

Eagerly, my gaze darts straight to the bed, craving the sight of her in the one place she should have always been.

The bed is empty.

My stomach drops to my feet as I move across the room, gaze catching the lump on the floor beside the window.

Frowning, I cross to it. She has the blanket from my bed covering her, and my pillows beneath her head. She’s sleeping on the floor like she physically can’t stomach being in my bed.

It’s agonizing and not right at all, so I bend and slide a hand beneath her head and the other behind her knees before standing and cradling her to my chest. I walk her to the bed and rest her on it before gathering the bedding from the floor and situating her comfortably.

She sighs in her sleep, her unconscious mind pleased, even if she’ll tell herself she’s irritated when waking.

Katya left so we could both rebuild, but this right here, seeing her in my bed, is as much salve as I’ll ever need. This is what was always meant to be. Her by my side. In my bed. My ring on her finger telling every fucker out there she’s mine. Moya zhena . My wife.

She can’t leave again. After this, I don’t know if I’ll survive her walking away.

I drop to my knees beside the bed to align our faces. Strands of hair have fallen over her face from the transition from floor to bed, and I slide them off her check, fingers lingering, taking what I can of her. Her lashes flutter but remain shut, and she makes a cute, little noise.

When her head moves to the side, I pull back so her movements remain unhindered by me. She rolls over, facing the other way. I lift off my knees to sit on the edge of the bed, this time not touching, just watching.

Wishing for another reality.

A different past.

And a time in which finding her in my bed would be normal.

That I’d get to call her mine still.

An hour later, I finally pull myself away and leave, heading down the hallway after relocking my bedroom door, when I’m stopped by the figure leaning against the staircase’s post, her arms crossed.

“Thought that was your car the cameras picked up. So you’re home now?”

“Don’t you have anything better to do than taunt me? Like planning world domination. Or fucking your husband.” I take in her black robe that’s askew and messy hair. It was a snide comment, but it seems Zeno’s visiting. “Again. And nyet , I’m heading back to prison.”

She scans my clothing, stained with Ivan’s blood. “You could shower first. Use Lev’s bathroom. He left for Rome the other day.”

Probably smart to refresh. A change of clothing too. I’d risk a visit to my closet, but I don’t want to accidentally wake Katya by going in there again. Luckily, Lev and I are similar sizes.

Vanessa glances down the hallway. “Does she know you’re here?” When I shake my head, her lips press together. “Okay, well, when she thinks she had a weird dream, how much do I lie?”

“Don’t say anything.”

She watches me head towards Lev’s room before murmuring, “I brought her with me to visit the brothels today. Before you bitch, you may recall I have a goddamn job to do that doesn’t involve babysitting. Saying that, though… I like her.”

“She’s playing you, Van. She’ll bolt when she doesn’t think you’re watching.”

“Or she won’t.” Vanessa shrugs, like the possibility of Katya taking off doesn’t matter. “She misses Moscow.”

Hope springs inside me, making me dizzy. Although, that could also be the shit diet and sleep from this week. “She told you that?”

“Didn’t have to. Her eyes said everything.”

Katya’s fears are valid, and I know her well enough. Missing a place isn’t enough to change her mind. Katya will need more convincing before understanding why she belongs here.

When I say nothing, she asks, “When are you returning for good?”

“Soon. I’m not finished. After everything, I can’t let him get locked up completely unscathed.”

She slaps me on my back as we reach Lev’s doorway. “Good. Make it hurt. Give him a few hits for me.”

“Of course. Keep Katya safe.”

I disappear into Lev’s room to shower and change and get the fuck out of the mansion before I stay forever.

Maybe I’ll return in another day or so.

I’ll need my fix of her.